Orlando, Florida’s new Amway Center, home to the NBA’s Orlando Magic, is situated on an eight-acre site adjacent to the downtown business district. The arena is a core part of an overall strategic plan for continued revitalization of Orlando’s urban core, designed to make that area a recreation and dining destination. In addition to the Magic and NCAA basketball events, the multi-purpose design allows the arena to host hockey and arena football games, ice shows, concerts and many other special events. A wide range of products from CENTRIA are prominently featured on the facility.

Sustainability was a key goal of this project. The Amway Center was the first NBA facility to earn LEED new construction certification. And many of the points that account for LEED certification were earned as a result of the building materials used. For example, 15 percent of the building materials are recycled and 20 percent come from local sources.

Other materials, including the buildings’ architectural metal panels, were manufactured to the architect’s exact specifications, which resulted in reduced jobsite waste. Of the waste that was generated in construction, approximately 83 percent of the wood, concrete and steel materials of construction have been recycled rather than sent to a landfill.

The project architects were C.T. HSU + Associates, P.A. of Orlando, FL; and Populous of Kansas City, MO. The CENTRIA products dealer/installer for the arena was Crown Corr, Inc. of Gary, IN, and the CENTRIA products dealer/installer for the parking garage was METCON of Cocoa, FL. The contractors for the arena were Hunt Construction Group of Orlando, FL; Rey Group of Orlando, FL; R.L. Burns, Inc. of Orlando, FL; HZ Construction, Inc. of Orlando, FL; and Albu & Associates, Inc. of Winter Park, FL. The contractor for the parking garage was PCL Construction of Orlando, FL. The project was completed in 2010.

The Amway Center’s design is based on the innovative and dramatic use of metal and glass. In terms of metal architectural wall panels, CENTRIA’s Formawall Graphix Series, Formawall Dimension Series, Profile Series Exposed Fastener Profiles, Profile Series IW Series, and EcoScreen Perforated Screenwall were selected because of their outstanding features and benefits in terms of performance, sustainability and aesthetics.

Formawall Dimension Series is the only wall system that provides both advanced thermal efficiency and moisture control in a single panelized component - the latter an important feature given Florida’s high humidity. Formavue, a component that’s integrated with Formawall, provided the architect with the ability to utilize windows effectively and efficiently in a single wall system, keeping the building’s sleek effect. The EcoScreen Perforated Screenwall products, particularly on the parking garage portion of the structure, helped control light, provide ventilation and offered a safety component without sacrificing aesthetics.

In keeping with the project’s emphasis on sustainability, Formawall Graphix Series, Formawall Dimension Series, Profile Series Exposed Fastener Profiles, and Profile Series IW Series have all received Cradle to Cradle® Certification at the Silver Level and EcoScreen is Cradle to CradleCM Certified at the Gold Level.

In terms of aesthetic benefits, Formawall Graphix Series is a single wall panel that can provide the look of 12 smaller panels, creating a unique segmented effect in an easy, economical solution. Use of Profile Series, both the Exposed and Concealed Fastener options, created the building’s clean, unbroken lines and unique visual effects. All together, Graphix Series, Profile Series Exposed Fastener Profiles, Profile Series IW Series, and EcoScreen Perforated Screenwall enabled the architects to create the building’s signature look, which reflects the energy of the wide variety of events being staged inside, as well as the vibrant urban atmosphere of the Orlando community.

CENTRIA products used on the Amway Center included:

• Formawall® Graphix Series® and Formawall® Dimension Series® 2" Horizontal. Square Feet: 90,670; Color: Silversmith; Finish: Embossed; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: 22/22.

• EcoScreen® Perforated Screenwall (BR5-36 EcoScreen with MicroSeam® Corners). Square Feet: 37,836; Color: Silversmith; Pattern: Staggered, 1/8” Diameter x 7/32” Spacing; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: .0400.

• Profile Series Exposed Fastener Profiles (Super-Rib with MicroSeam® Corners and Super-Rib Louvers). Square Feet: 35,903; Color: Silversmith; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: 22.

• EcoScreen® Perforated Screenwall (MR3-36 EcoScreen). Square Feet: 7,659; Color: Pewter; Pattern: Staggered, 3/8” x 9/16”, and 1/8” x 7/32”; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: .0400.

• Super-Rib with MicroSeam® Corners. Square Feet: 5,426; Color: Silversmith; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: .0400.

• Profile Series IW Series (IW-40A), Vertical. Square Feet: 4,324; Color: Silversmith; Finish: Smooth; Coating: Sundance Mica; Gauge: 20.